Márcio Rafael Ferreira de Souza
Encyclopedia
Márcio Rafael Ferreira de Souza, commonly known as Rafinha, (born 7 September 1985) is a Brazil
ian footballer who plays as a right back for Bayern Munich
in the Bundesliga
. His name translated to English literally means 'Little Rafa'.
team from his home town of Londrina
in Paraná
. By the age of twelve, he had begun training with PSTC, a local football club, before signing for Londrina Esporte Clube
in 2001, at the age of 16. At the end of his first year with Londrina Rafinha was signed by Coritiba Foot Ball Club
. This meant moving hundreds of kilometres from his home town, but allowed Rafinha to display his talents on the national stage.
At Coritiba Rafinha eventually found his way into the Brazilian Under-20 team
, and played in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
in the Netherlands
. During the tournament Rafinha scored two goals and played an integral part in Brazil's progress to the bronze medal. Rafinha's performance at the tournament alerted numerous European teams to his ability, and eventually it was Schalke
who were able to prise the right-back from Coritiba for an estimated €
5 million on a four-year contract.
.
, Bayern Munich confirmed Rafinha's transfer from Genoa
. He signed a three-year contract and reports say Bayern Munich
paid 5.5 million euro for him. He scored his first goal for Bayern Munich against Villareal in a 2–0 win on 14 September 2011.
Schalke 04 (Rafinha) along with Werder Bremen (Diego
) and Barcelona (Lionel Messi
) did not want to release their players for the olympic games so that they could help them in their domestic and European competitions. The case was taken to FIFA who ruled that all clubs should release their players aged under 23 for the Olympic Games.
Schalke, Bremen and Barcelona took their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) who eventually ruled in the clubs favour stating that "The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has upheld the appeals filed by FC Schalke 04, SV Werder Bremen and FC Barcelona against the decision issued on 30 July 2008 by the Single Judge of the Fifa's Players' Status Committee that consequently has been set aside in its entirety"
Schalke continued to refuse Rafinha from attending the Olympics. However, Rafinha competed as part of the Brazilian team, who won bronze, despite the wishes of his club. On 24 September 2008, Schalke handed Rafinha a record fine of €700,000 as they believed his 35 days in Beijing were "in serious breach of contract".
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian footballer who plays as a right back for Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
in the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
. His name translated to English literally means 'Little Rafa'.
Brazil and Schalke
Rafinha began his football career at the age of seven, playing for Gremio Londrinense, a futsalFutsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
team from his home town of Londrina
Londrina
Londrina is a city located in the northern region of the state of Paraná, Brazil, and is 369 km away from the capital, Curitiba. Londrina was originally founded by British settlers. The city exerts great influence on Paraná and Brazil's south region...
in Paraná
Paraná (state)
Paraná is one of the states of Brazil, located in the South of the country, bordered on the north by São Paulo state, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Santa Catarina state and the Misiones Province of Argentina, and on the west by Mato Grosso do Sul and the republic of Paraguay,...
. By the age of twelve, he had begun training with PSTC, a local football club, before signing for Londrina Esporte Clube
Londrina Esporte Clube
Londrina Esporte Clube, or Londrina as they are usually called, is a Brazilian football team from Londrina in Paraná, founded on April 5, 1956. The club won the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B in 1980, won the state championship three times, and competed several times in the Campeonato Brasileiro...
in 2001, at the age of 16. At the end of his first year with Londrina Rafinha was signed by Coritiba Foot Ball Club
Coritiba Foot Ball Club
Coritiba Foot Ball Club, commonly known as Coritiba, is a Brazilian football team from Curitiba, Paraná. It's the state's oldest football team and the best classified in the CBF and FIFA classifications. Coritiba has been champion in Paraná State for 35 times, more times than the sum of all the...
. This meant moving hundreds of kilometres from his home town, but allowed Rafinha to display his talents on the national stage.
At Coritiba Rafinha eventually found his way into the Brazilian Under-20 team
Brazil national under-20 football team
Brazil national under-20 football team, also known as Brazil Sub-20 or Seleção, is considered to be the feeder team for the Brazil national football team.-Competitive record:...
, and played in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in The Netherlands between 10 June and 2 July 2005. The 2005 championship was the 15th contested.- Venues :- Qualification :The following 24 teams qualified for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. During the tournament Rafinha scored two goals and played an integral part in Brazil's progress to the bronze medal. Rafinha's performance at the tournament alerted numerous European teams to his ability, and eventually it was Schalke
FC Schalke 04
Fußball-Club Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04, commonly known as simply FC Schalke 04 or Schalke , is a German, association-football club originally from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Schalke has long been one of the most popular football teams in Germany, even though major...
who were able to prise the right-back from Coritiba for an estimated €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
5 million on a four-year contract.
Genoa CFC
On 4 August 2010, it was confirmed that Rafinha moved from Schalke to GenoaGenoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...
.
FC Bayern Munich
On 1 June 2011, along with Manuel NeuerManuel Neuer
Manuel Neuer is a German footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bayern Munich and the German national football team.-Schalke 04:Neuer signed professional terms in 2005 after progressing through every age group at his hometown club. He made his Bundesliga debut when he came on to substitute the...
, Bayern Munich confirmed Rafinha's transfer from Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
. He signed a three-year contract and reports say Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
paid 5.5 million euro for him. He scored his first goal for Bayern Munich against Villareal in a 2–0 win on 14 September 2011.
2008 Olympics
In the summer of 2008 Rafinha was involved in a dispute with his club about his participation for Brazil at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.Schalke 04 (Rafinha) along with Werder Bremen (Diego
Diego Ribas da Cunha
Diego Ribas da Cunha , commonly known as just Diego, is an international Brazilian footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid on loan from VfL Wolfsburg, as an attacking midfielder.-Santos:...
) and Barcelona (Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi is an Argentine footballer who plays for FC Barcelona and captains the Argentina national team, mainly as a striker. Messi received several Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21, and won in 2009 and 2010...
) did not want to release their players for the olympic games so that they could help them in their domestic and European competitions. The case was taken to FIFA who ruled that all clubs should release their players aged under 23 for the Olympic Games.
Schalke, Bremen and Barcelona took their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) who eventually ruled in the clubs favour stating that "The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has upheld the appeals filed by FC Schalke 04, SV Werder Bremen and FC Barcelona against the decision issued on 30 July 2008 by the Single Judge of the Fifa's Players' Status Committee that consequently has been set aside in its entirety"
Schalke continued to refuse Rafinha from attending the Olympics. However, Rafinha competed as part of the Brazilian team, who won bronze, despite the wishes of his club. On 24 September 2008, Schalke handed Rafinha a record fine of €700,000 as they believed his 35 days in Beijing were "in serious breach of contract".